Here are my favorite songs of the month in synthpop, futurepop, darkwave, and adjacent genres. If you want to follow my music discovery this year, subscribe to my 2026 playlist on Spotify. New songs are added every Friday. Sort by “Date Added” to see new tracks appear at the top of the playlist.
10. MNÆ — “Drive”
Electronic trio MNÆ formed just this year, but they’ve already made a strong impression with “The Lion,” a sinister track that uses snarling vocals to convey its predatory rage. New song “Drive” continues to explore dark electronic territory while leaning further into straightforward synthpop. Bold vocals carry the melody while icy synth riffs cut through the mix, adding melodrama to the song’s tense atmosphere.
9. PALE MERIDANS — “Never Too Fast”
No, Pale Meridians are not going synthwave, though new single “Never Too Fast” certainly looks the part with its hot pink and electric blue visuals. Not to mention, its synths are drenched in echoey reverb that gives the track that expansive synthwave feel. Yet the synthpop trio’s hallmarks remain intact: lovely pop melodies, soothing vocals, and a verse-chorus-verse structure. I especially love the crackling radio communications woven into the mix that amplify the song’s sensation of speeding down an open road.
8. PRIEST — “Python”
A new era for the beloved Swedish dark synthpop act Priest has begun. “Python,” the first single from an upcoming album that explores the surveillance state, reveals ominous lyrics like “You know that someone’s watching you.” I’m intrigued by the prospect of Priest zeroing in on such a specific and timely subject, especially when the music is this good. Its propulsive beats and menacing electronics turn all that paranoia into a killer dancefloor track.
7. LIGHTS OF EUPHORIA — “City Streets”
The great German act Lights of Euphoria recently released a new album called Future Unknown that largely collects singles from the past two years, including “Machines of Light” and “Electric Lover.” “City Streets” is the album’s only new track, and it’s emblematic of the remarkable late-career renaissance the band is enjoying. Strong melodies, superb production, and a streak of romantic melancholy make the song instantly appealing, while its hook quickly sticks: “I see cracks in the pavement.” It’s another reminder that Lights of Euphoria are making some of the best music of their career right now.
6. GHOSTBELLS — “Curses”
Since emerging in 2025, New York duo ghostbells have been widely compared to Crystal Castles for their dense body rhythms and glitchy electronics. “Curses,” their first new song since this year’s Catacouture EP, makes the comparison abundantly clear. Swirling blips and bleeps collide into a frenetic soundscape with ice-cold beats, while eerie lyrics describe coming back from the dead for a loved one.
5. SILKE BISCHOFF — “Under Your Skin”
The return of legendary ’90s German act Silke Bischoff is shaping up to be one of the nicest surprises of the year. Each single thrills with intricate sound design that sounds fresh and modern despite being remasters of material recorded decades ago. They never made it Stateside, so it’s all new to me. “Under Your Skin,” another newly remastered track, is no exception. I love the way the oscillating synth refrain, clapping percussion, and dark vocals combine to give “Under Your Skin” an incredibly eerie drama.
4. SOFT VEIN — “Another Summer”
There comes a point every August when the oppressive summer heat starts to wear out its welcome. Soft Vein captures that unsettling feeling on “Another Summer,” the last pre-release single from their highly anticipated third album. Justin Chamberlain’s smoothly arresting vocals recall ’80s legends like Sting and Peter Gabriel, as he delivers lyrics about hiding from the sun. Chiming guitars and synths melt together into neon-drenched tones that could soundtrack an episode of “Miami Vice.”
3. SIMON CARTER feat. RUINED CONFLICT — “They Want Control”
The prolific English musician Simon Carter dabbles in all types of electronic music. “They Want Control” finds him returning to fiery futurepop with swirling arpeggios and booming four-on-the-floor beats. Ruined Conflict’s Xavier Morales provides a ruthless vocal performance that deftly evolves from his natural baritone to a rasping scream to an electrified menace. This is the third time they’ve teamed up, and it remains a potent combo.
2. CRYING VESSEL — “Angels of Ruin”
The Swiss-American act Crying Vessel has been on a tear since becoming a trio. New song “Angels of Ruin” combines male and female vocals for an intimate, mysterious effect that contrasts with the song’s crunchy industrial soundscape. The lyrics deepen that sense of duality by blurring the line between angels and demons. This is gothic romanticism at its finest.
1. HAUTE & FREDDY — “Touch Touch”
American duo Haute & Freddy is an emerging force in electropop that draws heavily upon ’80s New Wave melodies from the likes of Talking Heads, Cyndi Lauper, and Thompson Twins rather than the darker Depeche Mode stuff I typically write about. Their superb debut album came out in March, but they’ve already released a new song called “Touch Touch” that offers the perfect opportunity to jump on this bandwagon. It’s dreamy and delightful, at times slightly reminiscent of Kate Bush’s avant-pop, with just enough aching melancholy: “Give me some relief… from simply existing.”
